Federal funding for public lands declines in Colorado and Nevada

Federal funding and contract spending for public lands have seen significant declines following staffing cuts across land management agencies. In Colorado, federal contract work on public lands dropped by $189 million last year, representing a nearly one-third decrease from the previous year. This decline affects the U.S. Forest Service and agencies within the U.S. Department of the Interior, impacting small businesses and rural communities that rely on federal contracts for wildfire mitigation, maintenance, and scientific research.

In Nevada, the Trump administration has withheld more than $4.4 million in federal support intended for conservation and infrastructure projects. This decision impacts several national parks, including Great Basin National Park, where funds are typically used for trail stabilization, road repairs, and basic infrastructure.

Nationwide, contract spending related to federal public lands fell by $1.3 billion, or approximately 14%, between 2024 and 2025. The reduction has particularly affected rural counties, with one in five rural counties seeing net spending with local vendors drop to zero.